options-第2章

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ution　was　sent　to　us　by　Congressman　Brower；　of　her　native　　state。　　Congressman　Brower's　mother　was　related　to　the　Polks　of　　Tennessee。

〃Now；　see　here；　Colonel；〃　said　Thacker；　throwing　down　the　magazine；　　〃this　won't　do。　　You　can't　successfully　run　a　magazine　for　one　　particular　section　of　the　country。　　You've　got　to　make　a　universal　　appeal。　　Look　how　the　Northern　publications　have　catered　to　the　South　　and　encouraged　the　Southern　writers。　　And　you've　got　to　go　far　and　　wide　for　your　contributors。　　You've　got　to　buy　stuff　according　to　its　　quality　without　any　regard　to　the　pedigree　of　the　author。　　Now；　I'll　　bet　a　quart　of　ink　that　this　Southern　parlor　organ　you've　been　running　　has　never　played　a　note　that　originated　about　Mason　&　Hamlin's　line。　　　Am　I　right？〃

〃I　have　carefully　and　conscientiously　rejected　all　contributions　from　　that　section　of　the　countryif　I　understand　your　figurative　language　　aright；〃　replied　the　colonel。

〃All　right。　　Now　I'll　show　you　something。〃

Thacker　reached　for　his　thick　manila　envelope　and　dumped　a　mass　of　　typewritten　manuscript　on　the　editors　desk。

〃Here's　some　truck；〃　said　he；　〃that　I　paid　cash　for；　and　brought　along　　with　me。〃

One　by　one　he　folded　back　the　manuscripts　and　showed　their　first　pages　　to　the　colonel。

Here　are　four　short　stories　four　of　the　highest　priced　authors　in　the　　United　Statesthree　of　'em　living　in　New　York；　and　one　commuting。　　　There's　a　special　article　on　Vienna…bred　society　by　Tom　Vampson。　　　Here's　an　Italian　serial　by　Captain　Jacknoit's　the　other　Crawford。　　　Here　are　three　separate　exposes　of　city　governments　by　Sniffings；　and　　here's　a　dandy　entitled　'What　Women　Carry　in　Dress…Suit　Cases'a　　Chicago　newspaper　woman　hired　herself　out　for　five　years　as　a　lady's　　maid　to　get　that　information。　　And　here's　a　Synopsis　of　Preceding　　Chapters　of　Hall　Caine's　new　serial　to　appear　next　June。　　And　here's　a　　couple　of　pounds　of　vers　de　societe　that　I　got　at　a　rate　from　the　　clever　magazines。　　That's　the　stuff　that　people　everywhere　want。　　And　　now　here's　a　writeup　with　photographs　at　the　ages　of　four；　twelve；　　twenty…two；　and　thirty　of　George　B。　　McClellan。　　It's　a　　prognostication。　　He's　bound　to　be　elected　Mayor　of　New　York。　　It　'11　　make　a　big　hit　all　over　the　country。　　He〃

〃I　beg　your　pardon；〃　said　Colonel　Telfair；　stiffening　in　his　chair。　　　〃What　was　the　name？〃

〃Oh；　I　see；〃　said　Thacker；　with　half　a　grin。　　Yes；　he's　a　son　of　the　　General。　　We'll　pass　that　manuscript　up。　　But；　if　you'll　excuse　me；　　Colonel；　it's　a　magazine　we're　trying　to　make　go　offnot　the　first　　gun　at　Fort　Sumter。　　Now；　here's　a　thing　that's　bound　to　get　next　to　　you。　　It's　an　original　poem　by　James　Whitcomb　Riley。　　J。W。　　himself。　　　You　know　what　that　means　to　a　magazine。　　I　won't　tell　you　what　I　had　　to　pay　for　that　poem；　but　I'll　tell　you　thisRiley　can　make　more　　money　writing　with　a　fountain…pen　than　you　or　I　can　with　one　that　lets　　the　ink　run。　　I'll　read　you　the　last　two　stanzas：

〃'Pa　lays　around　'n'　loafs　all　day；　　　　'N'　reads　and　makes　us　leave　him　be。　He　lets　me　do　just　like　I　please；　　　　'N'　when　I'm　in　bad　he　laughs　at　me；　'N'　when　I　holler　loud　'n'　say　　　　Bad　words　'n'　then　begin　to　tease　The　cat；　'n'　pa　just　smiles；　ma's　mad　　　　'N'　gives　me　Jesse　crost　her　knees。　　　　　　　I　always　wondered　why　that　wuz…　　　　　　　I　guess　it's　cause　　　　　　　　　　　　Pa　never　does。

〃''N'　after　all　the　lights　are　out　　　　I'm　sorry　'bout　it；　so　I　creep　Out　of　my　trundle　bed　to　ma's　　　　'N'　say　I　love　her　a　whole　heap；　'N'　kiss　her；　'n'　I　hug　her　tight。　　　　'N'　it's　too　dark　to　see　her　eyes；　But　every　time　I　do　I　know　　　　She　cries　'n'　cries　'n'　cries　'n'　cries。　　　　　　　I　always　wondered　why　that　wuz…　　　　　　　I　guess　it's　'cause　　　　　　　　　　Pa　never　does。'

〃That's　the　stuff；〃　continued　Thacker。　　〃What　do　you　think　of　that？〃

〃I　am　not　unfamiliar　with　the　works　of　Mr。　　Riley；〃　said　the　colonel；　　deliberately。　　〃I　believe　he　lives　in　Indiana。　　For　the　last　ten　years　　I　have　been　somewhat　of　a　literary　recluse；　and　am　familiar　with　　nearly　all　the　books　in　the　Cedar　Heights　library。　　I　am　also　of　the　　opinion　that　a　magazine　should　contain　a　certain　amount　of　poetry。　　　Many　of　the　sweetest　singers　of　the　South　have　already　contributed　to　　the　pages　of　The　Rose　of　Dixie。　　I；　myself；　have　thought　of　　translating　from　the　original　for　publication　in　its　pages　the　works　　of　the　great　Italian　poet　Tasso。　　Have　you　ever　drunk　from　the　　fountain　of　this　immortal　poet's　lines；　Mr。　　Thacker？〃

〃Not　even　a　demi…Tasso；〃　said　Thacker。

Now；　let's　come　to　the　point；　Colonel　Telfair。　　I've　already　invested　　some　money　in　this　as　a　flyer。　　That　bunch　of　manuscripts　cost　me　　4；000。　　My　object　was　to　try　a　number　of　them　in　the　next　issue…I　　believe　you　make　up　less　than　a　month　aheadand　see　what　effect　it　　has　on　the　circulation。　　I　believe　that　by　printing　the　best　stuff　we　　can　get　in　the　North；　South；　East；　or　West　we　can　make　the　magazine　　go。　　You　have　there　the　letter　from　the　owning　company　asking　you　to　　co…operate　with　me　in　the　plan。　　Let's　chuck　out　some　of　this　slush　　that　you've　been　publishing　just　because　the　writers　are　related　to　　the　Skoopdoodles　of　Skoopdoodle　County。　　Are　you　with　me？〃

〃As　long　as　I　continue　to　be　the　editor　of　The　Rose；〃　said　Colonel　　Telfair；　with　dignity；　〃I　shall　be　its　editor。　　But　I　desire　also　to　　conform　to　the　wishes　of　its　owners　if　I　can　do　so　conscientiously。〃

〃That's　the　talk；〃　said　Thacker；　briskly。　　〃Now；　how　much　of　this　　stuff　I've　brought　can　we　get　into　the　January　number？　　We　want　to　　begin　right　away。〃

〃There　is　yet　space　in　the　January　number；〃　said　the　editor；　〃for　　about　eight　thousand　words；　roughly　estimated。〃

〃Great！〃　said　Thacker。　　〃It　isn't　much；　but　it'll　give　the　readers　　some　change　from　goobers；　governors；　and　Gettysburg。　　I'll　leave　the　　selection　of　the　stuff　I　brought　to　fill　the　space　to　you；　as　it's　all　　good。　　I've　got　to　run　back　to　New　York；　and　I'll　be　down　again　in　a　　couple　of　weeks。〃

Colonel　Telfair　slowly　swung　his　eye…glasses　by　their　broad；　black　　ribbon。

〃The　space　in　the　January　number　that　I　referred　to；〃　said　he；　　measuredly；　〃has　been　held　open　purposely；　pending　a　decision　that　I　　have　not　yet　made。　　A　short　time　ago　a　contribution　was　submitted　to　　The　Rose　of　Dixie　that　is　one　of　the　most　remarkable　literary　efforts　　that　has　ever　come　under　my　observation。　　None　but　a　master　mind　and　　talent　could　have　produced　it。　　It　would　just　fill　the　space　that　I　　have　reserved　for　its　possible　use。〃

Thacker　looked　anxious。

〃What　kind　of　stuff　is　it？〃　he　asked。　　〃Eight　thousand　words　sounds　　suspicious。　　The　oldest　families　must　have　been　collaborating。　　Is　　there　going　to　be　another　secession　？〃

〃The　author　of　the　article；〃　continued　the　colonel；　ignoring　Thacker's　　allusions；　〃is　a　writer　of　some　reputation。　　He　has　also　distinguished　　himself　in　other　ways。　　I　do　not　feel　at　liberty　to　reveal　to　you　his　　nameat　least　not　until　I　have　decided　whether　or　not　to　accept　his　　contribution。〃

〃Well；〃　said　Thacker；　nervously；　〃is　it　a　continued　story；　or　an　　account　of　the　unveiling　of　the　new　town　pump　in　Whitmire；　South　　Carolina；　or　a　revised　list　of　General　Lee's　body…servants；　or　what？〃

〃You　are　disposed　to　be　facetious；〃　said　Colonel　Telfair；　calmly。　　　〃The　article　is　from　the　pen　of　a　thinker；　a　philosopher；　a　lover　of　　mankind；　a　student；　and　a　rhetorician　of　high　degree。〃

〃It　must　have　been　written　by　a　syndicate；〃　said　Thacker。　　〃But；　　honestly；　Colonel；　you　want　to　go　slow。　　I　don't　know　of　any　eight…　thousand…word　single　doses　of　written　matter　that　are　read　by　anybody　　these　days；　except　Supreme　Court　briefs　and　reports　of　murder　trials。　　　You　haven't　by　any　accident　gotten　hold　of　a　copy　of　one　of　Daniel　　Webster's　speeches；　have　you？〃

Colonel　Telfair　swung　a　little　in　his　chair　and　looked　steadily　from　　under　his　bushy　eyebrows　at　the　magazine　promoter。

〃Mr。　　Thacker；〃　he　said；　gravely；　〃I　am　willing　to　segregate　the　　somewhat　crude　expression　of　your　sense　of　humor　from　the　solicitude　　that　your　business　investments　undoubtedly　have　conferred　upon　you。　　　But　I　must　ask　you　to　cease　your　jibes　and　derogatory　comments　upon　　the　South　and　the　Southern　people。　　They；　sir；　will　not　be　tolerated　　in　the　office　of　The　Rose　of　Dixie　for　one　moment。　　And　before　you　　proceed　with　more　of　your　covert　insinuations　that　I；　the　editor　of　　this　magazine；　am　not　a　competent　judge　of　the　merits　of　the　matter　　submitted　to　its　consideration；　I　beg　that　you　will　first　present　some　　evidence　or　proof　that　you　are　my　superior　in　any　way；　shape；　or　form　　relative　to　the　question　in　hand。〃

〃Oh；　come；　Colonel；〃　said　Thacker；　good…naturedly。　　〃I　didn't　do　　anything　like　that　to　you。　　It　sounds　like　an　indictment　by　the　fourth　　assistant　attorney…general。　　Let's　get　back　to　business。　　What's　this　　8；000　to　1　shot　about？〃

〃The　article；〃　said　Colonel　Telfair；　acknowledging　the　apology　by　a　　slight　bow；　〃covers　a　wide　area　of　knowledge。　　It　takes　up　theories　　and　questions　that　have　puzzled　the　world　for　centuries；　and　disposes　　of　them　logically　and　concisely。　　One　by　one　it　holds　up　to　view　the　　evils　of　the　world；　points　out　the　way　of　eradicating　them；　and　then　　conscientiously　and　in　detail　comments　the　good。　　There　is　hardly　a　　phase　of　human　life　that　it　does　not　discuss　wisely；　calmly；　and　　equitably。　　The　great　policies　of　governments；　the　duties　of　private　　citizens；　the　obligations　of　home　life；　law；　ethics；　moralityall　　these　important　subjects　are　handled　with　a　calm　wisdom　and　confidence　　that　I　must　confess　has　captured　my　admiration。〃

〃It　must　be　a　crackerjack；〃　said　Thacker；　impressed。

〃It　is　a　great　contribution　to　the　world's　wisdom；〃　said　the　colonel。　　　〃The　only　doubt　remaining　in　my　mind　as　to　the　tremendous　advantage　it　　would　be　to　us　to　give　it　publication　in　The　Rose　of　Dixie　is　that　I　　have　not　yet　sufficient　information　about　the　author　to　give　his　work　　publicity　in　our　magazine。

〃I　thought　you　said　he　is　a　distinguished　man；〃　said　Thacker。

〃He　is；〃　replied　the　colonel；　〃both　in　literary　and　in　other　more　　diversified　and　extraneous　fields。　　But　I　am　extremely　careful　about　　the　matter　that　I　accept　for　publication。　　My　contributors　are　people　　of　unquestionable　repute　and　connections；　which　fact　can　be　verified　　at　any　time。　　As　I　said；　I　am　holding　this　article　until　I　can　acquire　　more　information　about　its　author。　　I　do　not　know　whether　I　will　　publish　it　or　not。　　If　I　decide　against　it；　I　shall　be　much　pleased；　　Mr。　　Thacker；　to　substitute　the　matter　that　you　are　leaving　with　me　in　　its　place。〃

Thacker　was　somewhat　at　sea。

〃I　don't　seem　to　gather；〃　said　he；　〃much　about　the　gist　of　this　　inspired　piece　of　literature。　　It　sounds　more　like　a　dark　horse　than　　Pegasus　to　me。〃

〃It　is　a　human　document；〃　said　the　colonel…editor；　confidently；　〃from　　a　man　of　great　accomplishments　who；　in　my　opinion；　has　obtained　a　　stronger　grasp　on　the　world　and　its　outcomes　than　that　of　any　man　　living　to…day。〃

Thacker　rose　to　his　feet　excitedly。

〃Say！〃　he　said。　　〃It　isn't　possible　that　you've　cornered　John　D。　　　Rockefeller's　memoirs；　is　it？　　Don't　tell　me　that　all　at　once。〃

No；　sir；〃　said　Colonel　Telfair。　　〃I　am　speaking　of　mentality　and　　literature　not　of　the　less　worthy　intricacies　of　t